Centennial extension, the state constitution, 'welfare queens,' and more

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Extension justified

In response to Gail Black's letter of opposition to the Centennial Boulevard extension ("Forget connectivity," June 15) based on impact to "lives and habitat that will be affected," perhaps Ms. Black could consider these questions:

1. What "development was rationalized" when a law-abiding, entrepreneurial American developed the land where her house and neighborhood currently stand? Where would she be living now?

2. What "development was rationalized" when a law-abiding, entrepreneurial American developed the land and area where her place of employment stands? Where would she be working now?

3. What "development was rationalized" when a law-abiding, entrepreneurial American developed the stores where she shops and picks up the Indy? How far would she have to go to get groceries?

4. Same questions for the roads that connect Ms. Black's home and place of employment and stores.

5. How many people will be employed in building the new boulevard? Lots.

6. How many Americans will be able to pursue their dreams by building and investing in properties along the boulevard? Lots.

All the above "development" has been and will be completed in accordance with approved legislation and compliance with environmental regulations.

Ms. Black, if the Centennial extension will impede on some of your preferred recreation, in consideration of your proximity to Garden of the Gods, please take full advantage of the many acres of protected lands and miles of trails there.

— Barry Spaeth

Colorado Springs

Time for change

Why are the mass killings committed by men in the U.S.? Sociologists Rachel Kalish and Michael Kimmel (2010) analyzed 30 years of school shootings since 1982 in the U.S. Findings show the American culture of masculinity encourages violence to avenge perceived challenges to masculinity, and further, our traditional socialization of men and masculinity influence this type of violence.

Kalish and Kimmel note the killers are different from traditional masculine males because they are often targeted for humiliation, teasing and exclusion, making their masculinity doubtful. This, in turn, causes the killers to seek revenge and reassert their masculinity through public displays of lethal violence, according to Kalish and Kimmel, and the public location is an effort to specifically blame the culture of the community, school and society that oppresses them.

Despite a valid concern regarding terrorism and the need for more gun control, America cannot attempt to place blame outside our borders for our deep-rooted issues. Our troubles run deeper. The question should be asked: Why does the continuation of inequality exist? Bias, prejudice and inequality are at the center of Kalish and Kimmel's analysis and are still deeply rooted in our culture.

When everyone, including women, people of any color or ethnicity, the LGBT community and disabled are treated with fairness, justice and full human rights, not only will everyone benefit but crime will lessen. We must begin to question, educate and create dialog on a deeper level. A new paradigm is needed.

— Debbie Patton

Colorado Springs

Ballot issue views

This year, the one Colorado Constitutional initiative I will be supporting is the Raise the Bar ballot question that will make it harder to change the Colorado Constitution. Our U.S. Constitution is eight pages long. The Colorado Constitution is about 800 pages long. Ridiculous!

Once again this year I have real concern as I am constantly approached to sign petitions to add amendments to our state constitution. One of the most radical proposals is Ballot Measure #78, which will make 90 percent of Colorado unavailable for new oil and natural gas development. In other words, #78 would eliminate fracking and jobs in Colorado.

Our state and our economy will be unduly harmed if this initiative becomes law. The oil and natural gas industry has contributed countless high-paying jobs averaging $99,175 per year and severance tax revenues to our economy, roads and infrastructure. Isn't that a good thing?

My strong suggestion is when you are approached to sign a petition at any of the traditional venues around town to change our state constitution, just say no!

— Willie H. Breazell Sr.

Colorado Springs

CSU governance

As a citizen owner of Colorado Springs Utilities, I want the right and ability to vote for the board and the ability to hold the board and its members accountable. Colorado Springs Forward's proposal to change the governance model from elected members to appointed members takes away my property rights.

My sense is CSF wants an appointed board because it will provide their organization greater leverage and control in who the appointed members will be and thus better to achieve their objectives. To me that effort seems more about control than improving performance.

I don't want another layer of so-called experts, particularly unelected, that will reduce accountability. Our federal government is now largely run by unelected, appointed, unaccountable people. I don't want that to happen in Colorado Springs.

— Dick Standaert

Colorado Springs

Negative outlook

This is a dumpy city with no mission. Poverty with a view. A city of zero sense of community, but full of selfish, entitled rude people. I think it is interesting the steady stream of Section 8 welfare queens infesting Colorado Springs, especially since John Suthers became mayor.

I think it is interesting how whenever I go anywhere in this outdated, infrastructure-challenged city, all I see is welfare queens with multiple children in tow.

Southeast Colorado Springs is a bunch of lazy welfare lovers with multiple kids living in slumlord apartments.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock likes lofts, townhomes and clean areas. John Suthers likes a city of slumlords with Section 8 tenants who have multiple children with another on the way.

The city brags about gaining 2,500 jobs in six months, but 2,600 of those jobs were in leisure and hospitality, which means excluding the lowest-paid industry, the metro area lost 100 jobs. I guess Suthers' goal is to create restaurant jobs.

What a misguided dump of a city with nice views.

— Matt Olafssen

Colorado Springs

Open invitation

I would like to invite Sen. John Morse to join me in helping to remove automobiles from U.S. streets. Every day, as many people are killed in drunk-driving accidents as were killed in the tragedy in Orlando. At some point in their life, 66 percent of Americans (two out of three!) will be involved in an accident with a intoxicated driver. Tens of thousands more people are killed each year in drunk-driving accidents according to the Center for Disease Control than in all the gun deaths in the U.S. every year. If we remove all automobiles from the roads, this figure will drop drastically. I call on Sen. Morse to join me in this effort.